Bergmann 1897 Carbine

Several of the popular pistols of the very early 1900s were offered by factories in carbine configurations, with 10-14 inch barrels and permanent shoulder stocks (not to be confused with the detachable stock/holsters also made for many of these pistols). In particular, the Luger, Mauser 96, and Mannlicher designs were offered this way. Well, one of our readers asked if carbine versions of the Bergmann pistols were ever made, and I responded that they were not…and it turns out I was not quite correct.

At least a few Bergmann carbines were made, both as pistol-carbines and as dedicated shoulder arms. From Milpas.cc we have a photo of one such carbine, wonderfully engraved and accepted with horn and gold inlay:

Bergmann 1907 Carbine

The serial number on this example is 34, and it is marked “TH Bergmann – Gaggenau”, indicating that it was manufactured at Bergmann’s own factory. The top of the bolt is marked “Karabiner Bergmann / Patent Brevete S.G.D.G.”, and  – most interesting – the rear of the bolt has a fancy inlaid “TB” marking. Unfortunately, this appears to be the only photograph of this or any other Bergmann carbine that can be found today, and the available literature does not mention them.

Edit:

I have been contacted by the owner of another one of these carbines, who corrected the date (I originally listed them as Model 1907). All four of the guns he is aware of have serial numbers that fall into the Model 1897 range. Interestingly, all four of the carbines show the same type of engraving as the example pictured above.

13 Comments

  1. Breveté SGDG (sans garantie du gouvernement) was French & Belgian legal mention about no state/governemental warranty/guaranty about Patent/brevet work without danger for user

        • As being on the “Patent Pending” situation; The
          product which applied for patent(Brevete) is not
          certainly accepted as unique, but guarantied so if
          granted in the future. The subject matter is the
          patent,not the product itself. No government on the
          Earth accepts responsibility for any product with
          exception of that product being made by government.

          • That’s French law & Belgian law base on Napoléon Bonaparte, Law of the september, 27TH 1800 : « sans examen préalable, aux risques et périls des demandeurs, et sans garantie soit de la réalité, de la nouveauté ou du mérite de l’invention, soit de la fidélité ou de l’exactitude de la description ».

            That’s just mean patented according French or Belgian law

  2. This is really neat. The pistol itself was really interesting, but somehow seemed undone. However, this redition, to me, seems that the action has come into its own. Really neat.

  3. I assume the action is still short-recoil, judging by the general layout. But considering that the longer barrel is now more massive, what other changes to the operating system had to be made?

    • The barrel might be shroulded. But, attention to the
      eyes. The user should get extra care for recoiling
      breechbolt. Bergmann’s different lay out is much more
      criyical than other pistol/carbine types.

  4. Esa carabina la compre yo en Chile y luego la vendi a un señor quien al parecer la remato el James D. Julia…pertenecía a una familia de inmigrantes alemanes del sur de mi país

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